Former NATO Rep: U.S. Can't Hesitate vs. Syria

Truman National Security Project senior advisor Mark Jacobson explains why it is imperative that the U.S. take decisive, definitive action against Syria. Photo: Getty Images.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

... the the ... we want ... the cyber change understood ... that by using ... chemical weapons on large scale against your people him swimming against ... infants ... against children ... that ... you were not only breaking ... international norms and standards of decency ... but you're also creating a situation where ... U S national interests ... are affected and ... that nice stuff ... that was President Obama yesterday saying the US is not yet made a decision ... regarding how and when to take action against the Assad regime in Syria ... good morning welcome to the new sub I'm Paul beanie and taper off Ralf Winkler ... overnight developments in the tension with Syria ... UN Secretary General ban Ki moon says ... inspectors will report their findings regarding the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Assad government on Saturday ... also Turkey has joined Israel Mr. being distributing gas masks to citizens ... out of fear of us and it appears US military actions will trigger for tele Tory moves ... Meanwhile price of crude oil which shot up to a multi month high ... a fall in on what some analysts say was an overreaction to the tension surrounding Syria ... I'm ... tomorrow night at ... our first guest this morning as the Truman National Security project senior advisor and a former NATO representative in Afghanistan and feels it is imperative ... that the U S makes a definitive statement against Syria ... Mark Jacobson joins us this morning from Washington ... morning walk ... thank you for having it all links are coming on the shelf so I your purse her earliest ... how does the Obama and Mr to make a definitive statement ... without giving the United States to deep into the Syrian civil war ... the most important thing administration has done so far is make that clear statement ... that any sort of military responses for limited objectives ... the idea here is to deter aside his regime ... from using chemical weapons again ... this is not going to be about regime change ... okay it was so do you think so what you've seen so far is ... I in you mention this ... earlier ... John Kerry coming out with a strong statement everyone really um have really got everybody's attention ... since then ... he's seen a lot a lot of jockeying Nieto ... on some sort of pop back about how the unity of the evidence is that the Assad regime used chemical weapons ... and what have you seen since then do you think the stock has been convinced ... that the Western powers are serious ... well this is actually what many of us are helping al ... the important piece for this quick and decisive statement by the administration What's to demonstrate ... with complete certainty ... that there would be consequences for the use ... of chemical weapons there are consequences in the international community ... for such reprehensible acts ... I think this step was taken ... quickly and decisively ... exactly with that in mind convince aside betting on is a very small window ... within which to take actions ... back then reduce the likelihood of a strike ... yet when you think of that danger I mean that this this is more than going on for more than two years ... Western powers of largely stood by and watched it when you think of the dangers that you start down this road you say the half to back up the top say they have to send some missiles and there ... was a danger that once you start down this road you do get drawn into this ... well now the challenge for military planners the administration ... is to develop the potential for a military response ... that compels us I did ... not use weapons in the future ... but does not provoke ... the type of response they could drag us further into the conflict ... for example ... under consideration no would be the issue whether or not it's TriQuint to ... create some sort of regional response when they're not Assad would ratchet up pressure and this is exactly why the type of strike ... it's it's more important the psychological message that it sends ... an less important that targets at its actually had ... we are exactly right the enemy gets a vote and this is the challenge for the Pentagon the White House and our allies right now ... from everything you've seen fall ... I look to the Assad regime has been saying we didn't do it was and we weren't the ones using chemical weapons that they said we will respond if attacked ... how how good do you think the case is that was the Assad regime that use those chemical weapons in that attack ... let me break this down a bit because there's been a lot of the discussion about exactly that issue ... the first there's no doubt the Syrian regime has chemical weapons ... this is not a case of Iraq gutsy thousandthree by George Tenet slam dunk guy all that ... this is a case of ... how these attacks took place with us are aware ... I was a sodden control in my argument is ... that you need to understand that ultimately ... Assad has been irresponsible not only for the murder ... of tens of thousands of perhaps even a hundred thousand of his citizens ... but there is no doubt that at least on one occasion possibly onto ... his forces used ... chemical weapons ... and he is ultimately responsible his regime is ultimately responsible for that use ... I Marc Jacobs and thank you very much for coming on this morning ... thank you for having me ...